Hosiery.



W. D- BUTZ.

HOSIEBY.

APPLICATION FILED JUIE 1, 1908.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

- after set forth, reference being courses, are formed in the ribbed togl plain knitted web with tops WALTER D. BUTZ, OF NORRISTOWN', PENNSYLVANIA.

nosmmr.

Specification of L ttersPatent.

Patented Itiarch 1c, 1909.

Application filed. June 1, 1908. Serial No. 436,103.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER I). BUTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing in Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Hosiery, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to full or half hose having a leg of plain knitted web and a top of ribbed knitted web, the object of my invention being to prevent excessive stretchin of the ribbed web and consequent eventua loss or serious impairment of its elasticity. This object I attain in the manner hereinhad to the accompanying drawing, in which-- Figural represents a knitted sock illustrating my invention, and Fig. 2 is an exaggerated sectional view of the stitches in that portion of the sock where the plain leg joins the ribbed top. a

It is common toprovide many forms of;

legs and feet of composed of ribbed web, in order that said top portions of the hose may be of a more elastic and contractible character than the web constituting the leg and foot. After the hose has been in use some time, however, these ribbed webs, because of repeated stretching, lose either all or the greater portion of their elasticity. It is also customary to provide the upper end of a ribbed top with, one or more of what are termed welt courses in order to prevent the web from raveling. I have found that if dne ormore similar welt 'ust above the junction of the same wit the plain web leg, the undue stretching of the ribbed web will be prevented, and the ribbed top will preserve its elasticity for a much longer time. ventive means.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, 1 represents the leg of the stocking, 2 the foot, 3 a seamless heel, and 4 a so-called seamless toe, all roduced in accordance with methods w ich have long been in use in the manufacture of this class of liosiery.

5 represents the top composed ofribbed tubular web. having, at its upper end, a series of welt courses 6, and just above the junction of the ribbed top with theplain foot another series of welt courses 7. welt courses are produced by arresting the knitting operation upon one of the sets of full hose or half hose having than in the absence of such PIG-7,.

These so-called needles with which the rib knitting is' provided, continuing to knit one or more courses of stitches upon the other set of needles of' said machine, and then resuming the knitting of ribbed web. The ribbed tops are usually knitted in succession in long webs, and a jacent to each welt courses, course produced by drawing longer stitches in said course than in the others, this slack course 'being the one which is transferred to the needles of the the le course or series of welt there 18 what is termed a slack lain machine upon which and foot of the stocking re knitted,

and t e lengthening of the stitches in sa'id slack course being of facilitating such transfer. is severed at points between intended for the purpose The rib ed web the slack and welt courses, so that in each ribbed top thus.

courses are at the-upper produced, the welt end and the slack course at the lower end.

I In carrying out my invention, welt courses or seriesof welt courses, are produced in the continuous ribbed web at a distance apart equal to the desired length of the ribbed top,

and the slack course is formed adjacent to that one of the welt courses which is at the bottom of said ribbed top.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, stitches produced upon one set 0 9 re resents the the needles (if the rib machine, while the stitch 10 is being held upon the needles of the other set.

11 represents .the long or slack course, and 12 the plain courses produced u needles of the machine to which said long or slack course of the ribbed web lfas been transferred.

1'. Hosiery havin a leg of plain knitted web and a top of rib ed web, said ribbed top having one or more welt courses adjacent fo the top of the plain web constituting the eg.

2. Hosiery having a leg of lain knitted web and a top of ribbed web, said course of the plain web constituting the leg, and also having, adjacent to said slack course, one or. more welt courses. In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this Specification, in the presence of ,two subscribing witnesses.

.- WALTER D. BUTZ.

Witnesses:

Hammer: D. TURNER, KATE A. BEADLE.

ribbed top having a slack course interknitted with the first on the 

